How can radioactive half-life be used to date fossils?

Jay Barrett

Jay Barrett

Answered question

2022-04-07

How can radioactive half-life be used to date fossils?

Answer & Explanation

Jerry Kidd

Jerry Kidd

Beginner2022-04-08Added 18 answers

A = A 0 e λ t , where:
A = current activity ( s 1 )
A 0 = original activity ( s 1 )
λ = d e c a y   c o n s t a n t ( ln ( 2 ) t 1 2 ) ( s 1 )
t= time (s, though sometimes uses different units like y e a r 1 when λ is given in terms of years)
A A 0 = e λ t
ln ( A A 0 ) = λ t
t = ln ( A A 0 ) λ
t = t 1 2 ln ( A A 0 ) ln ( 2 )
t ( y e a r s ) = 5730 ln ( A A 0 ) ln ( 2 )
If we know the current activity of the decay of 14 C and use living material for a rough estimate for the original activity of 14 C, then we can put them into this equation to find its age in years.

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